Serious burns are one of the most painful and difficult medical conditions to treat. They require prompt medical response, and even after the immediate emergency is addressed, the continued risk of infection and damage to tissue and organs means that hospital care and treatment may continue for months. Even with the best medical care, burn injuries can leave a person disabled and disfigured. Anyone who suffers severe burn injuries faces major and disruptive changes in their lives.
A burn is tissue damage caused by heat, chemicals, electricity, sunlight, or nuclear radiation. The most frequently occurring burns are those caused by scalds, building fires, and flammable liquids and gases. No matter what the cause of the burn, the effects on the tissue are the same.
Burn injuries are classified into three different categories, depending upon the severity of the burn:
- First-degree burns: Burns affecting the outer layer of the skin. First-degree burns typically cause the skin to be red and very sensitive to touch.
- Second-degree burns: Painful burns affecting the outer layer of the skin as well as the underlying skin (the dermis). Second-degree burns are often characterized by swelling and blisters.
- Third-degree burns: Third-degree burns affect all three layers of skin and often result in permanent scarring and disfigurement. Third-degree burns are very difficult to treat and often leave the burn victim with a lifetime of complications.
Extremely severe burns involving damage to organs and bone are classified as fourth, fifth and sixth degree burns.
The swelling and blistering that occur with burns are caused by the loss of fluid from damaged blood vessels. When the burned area is extensive, fluid loss can be great enough to cause shock. When this happens the burn victim requires immediate transfusion of blood or of a physiological salt solution to restore adequate fluid levels and to maintain blood pressure.
Medical researchers have made significant progress in their ability to treat serious burn injuries. Twenty-five years ago, a person with third degree burns covering half the body was not expected to live. Today many patients survive burns that covered 90 percent of the body, albeit with permanent disabilities. The increased survival rate is the result of advances in resuscitation, better wound cleaning and follow-up care, nutritional support, and infection control. Grafting with the patient’s own skin or artificial materials also speed the healing process.
Many serious burn injuries are the result of a defective product or of negligence. A manufacturer who builds and sells a defective product, or a landlord or other property owner who is negligent in the maintenance of a property and that negligence results in a fire can be held financially responsible for injuries.
Here are the heating devices that most often lead to fires:
- Gas-fired space heaters
- Portable electric heaters
- Kerosene heaters
- Wood and coal burning stoves and fireplaces
- Cooking equipment
- Upholstered furniture, and bedding and mattresses
- Articles of clothing
If you or a loved one has suffered severe burn injuries, and you believe that negligence on the part of a landlord or an employer, or defective product design contributed to your injuries, you should consult with an experienced New York personal injury lawyer and burn injuries lawyer to determine whether you may have an actionable claim.
Contact today online or by telephone at 800-510-9695 to speak with experienced New York personal injury attorney and burn injury attorneys.
Also read: Should You Consider Legal Action After a Serious Burn Injury!